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Survey explores mental health needs of trans and gender diverse young people

Not all people identify as the gender they were assigned at birth. We know from past research that trans and gender diverse young people have higher rates of mental health problems than non-trans individuals, but few mental health services specialise in assisting gender diverse youth.

Now, researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute, the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Youth Link and the Freedom Centre have launched a national survey to investigate how we can better support those young people.

The project is known as Trans Pathways. Researchers have developed two online surveys for the project, one for trans and gender diverse young people aged 14-25, and another for parents and guardians of trans and gender diverse young people under 25 years of age.

Dr Ashleigh Lin from the Telethon Kids Institute said the survey aimed to improve the lives of trans individuals growing up in Australia.

"Through Trans Pathways we hope to learn more about the experiences of gender diverse young people and how the Australian healthcare system can better meet their mental health needs."

"We have had a great response so far and Trans* Pathways is now the largest study of gender diverse young people to ever be conducted in Australia," Dr Lin said.

"It is also the first to investigate the perspective of parents. This information will help to inform policies, health professionals, parents and the wider community about how relevant services can best meet the needs of gender diverse youth."